IT Infrastructure Apprentice Review

My role on a day to day basis at Newcastle Building Society involves working in all aspects and teams of the IT department and working closely with the colleagues of the Building Society in order to provide and efficient and effective IT experience for them. Since starting, I have been on hand to provide first line support on Service Desk, second line support on IT Support Services and currently I am working with the Infrastructure team to provide third line support on any network or telephony issues.

I have learnt a whole range of new skills since working at Newcastle Building Society. I have also been able to develop existing skills that I already had in IT since beginning my apprenticeship at Newcastle Building Society. I have developed new skills in certain areas such as hardware upgrades in corporate laptops, the importance of carrying out security updates on work PCs and how to configure network switches so that they are ready to be installed in our branches.

I really enjoy my programme at Newcastle Building Society because it gives me a good sense of independence whilst also being educated at the same time through my apprenticeship provider - Baltic. It is a very good balance because the classrooms I attend through baltic are all virtual and online which suits me better. I am still given a lot of responsibility in day to day roles at the society too so I always feel like I am a key part to the team and not just an apprentice.

My programme that I am completing at Newcastle Building Societ is very well structured and it is very well organised too. As I mentioned previously, my learning through the apprenticeship scheme is all done remotely online which I can do from home. This means that I have full concentration on this and I do not have any distractions that I may have if it were done in a classroom or from the office. It fits in well with my work at the Society too as I still have a lot of responsibility on a day to day basis which makes me feel a good part of the team.

At Newcastle Building Society I receive a great amount of support from my employer, I have regular meetings with my Line Manager who asks me for progress updates and how I am finding my apprenticeship which is very useful. In these meetings I am also able to share any concerns which I may have which is also very useful. I have an apprenticeship/early talent coordinator too as well as a mentor who I can speak to again if I need any support in other none IT related areas.

Throughout my baltic apprenticeship at the Newcastle Building Society, I have received a great amount of support through my training provider and my assessor when working towards my qualifications. My assessor, has always been there on hand to help and give me any guidance on how I can improve my assessment plans and my exam coordinator has always been there too, reminding me of my online course dates and exams. Without the help of these two I dont think working towards my qualifications would have been as enjoyable.

I believe that my qualification through my training provider has helped massively in my peformance in my role. It has certainly given me a better understanding of the way things work within an IT Department such as the one at Newcastle Building Society. The content of the online courses has included things which I have seen on a day to day basis within my role which has helped me perform better and helped me work independently.

There are many extra-curricular activities that I have been able to get involved in at Newcastle Building Society since I have started working for the business. In one of the first few months of me starting at the society, I was involved in a game of football on a lunch time with fellow colleagues from the IT Department which enabled me to get to know the staff better and made it more comfortable for me to be around them. Also the society encourages that each member of staff does a day of volunteering which is also very good for the community.

Yes

I would recommend a job to a friend at Newcastle Building Society because it is a very friendly company to work for which has very good values in place for each member of staff to try and adhere to which makes it a much more positive place to work at. The local community is a big incentive for the Society and when you see the work and effort that goes into the local community it gives you a sense of pride for working for the business. There are many opportunities to explore different areas of the business once you are an employee which gives you a good chance to really cement a place in a career you wish to be in.

When applying for a job at Newcastle Building Society I would recommend being yourself in the interview and not trying to be somebody who you arent. The company certainly does not discriminate in any way shape or form, so be yourself. Ensure that you ask questions about the role in the interview, be keen to show your interest in the role you are applying for. If you are a good team player make this known.